Level with me: how bad is Liberty University?

[ladylearner]

I'm applying to Liberty University's MA in Applied Linguistics. I have avoided Liberty University because I've heard it has a terrible reputation. However, as I look for a US-based master's degree in Applied Linguistics, Liberty keeps coming up. 

I don't personally know anyone who has attended Liberty but I reached out to a couple of alumni on LinkedIn. 

Does anyone here have experience with Liberty's Applied Linguistics grad degree? I know Liberty is regionally accredited but I'm asking about reputation - not accreditation. I don't really have an issue with Liberty being a Christian-affiliated university. I'm not religious but I do enjoy learning about religion and culture. However, do people mostly associate Liberty with being homophobic, tolerant of sexual assault, etc. Because I'm not down with that.

Also, I'd love to know about the experience itself. What was it like to attend Liberty? Does the college require responding to discussion boards? Are there group projects? Are faculty involved?

I've only heard about Liberty online and I'm interested in hearing about people's personal experiences in an online grad program at Liberty. 

Note: Liberty checks a lot of boxes but it isn't the only program I'm considering. Just wanted to get some opinions from folks who are familiar.

[ss20ts]

Wouldn't touch them with someone else's 100 foot pole. I would never want my name associated with that place. Between the accusations, the lawsuits, the donations, nope. Just a big fat nope for me. Sometimes going to a college no one has heard of is a good thing because that means there's not been a controversy which they're now known for.

[Tireman4]

Let me throw my log into the fire. First, I am can ONLY speak of the LU History Department. I understand ss20ts concerns, but I can tell you I never had that in my 4.5 years at LU. Every doctoral class in History has discussion boards and they were quite engaging. I had no group projects and yes, the faculty were involved ( we ( students) had their cell phone numbers) and my dissertation chair is still involved with me ( my journal article I am trying to get published and future book). I had never had religion forced down my throat ( LU is SBC and I am a UMC), not once in the discussions or by the professors. This is what I posted for Degreeinfo.com

Let me add my 3 cents. I started at LU in August 2019, taking courses in the PhD program in History. It was tough. The comps courses, 4 in total ( 77 books in 7 months, reading alone, with 4- 6 hour final exams of 20 to 25 pages each), separated the folks who could be successful and those that could not be. That being said, LU did not take one single course from my MA program at North Carolina Central University nor the four doctoral classes at the University of Houston ( too old they stated). I was hyper focused to finish after the trials and tribulations I had at UNISA. I defended my dissertation in January 2024 and graduated with a 3.96. Now, we lost a lot of folks during my almost 5 years at LU. Some had some serious talent, but life got in the way ( two walked away during the dissertation phase that I know of, some washed out early). I think some thought that a PhD would be fun to attain, but when they started to take these classes, the involvement level may have been too much. I treated each class like the NCAA Basketball Tournament, survive and advance. All of my classes were 8 week courses, so time management was a premium. The professors in the program are top notch and were there for the students. My dissertation chair still is there ( we texted as late as yesterday, my proposed journal article was too long...lol).

Again, it might not be for everyone. I can only speak for me, no one else. Also, my LU PhD has not kept me from being published ( The Sound Historian- Texas Oral History Association) or being considered for publishing ( Journal of Contemporary History and UNT Press).

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

I would ask what you are studying linguistics for... is it person fulfillment, to earn some sort of professional credential, like being a speech therapist, to become a professor .... you get the idea.

Liberty is a decent school. It does however have a checkered reputation, that has nothing to do with the quality of instruction. Let me say that again, the problems with the reputation have nothing to do with the quality of your education. - this isn't like VUL or another school getting put on probation by the accreditation agency.

The reputation issues come down to really three things.

1) The school promotes an openly evangelical Christian world view. They take the Bible literally and yes, are openly against homosexuality, are very pro-life, prohibit alcohol on school property, prohibit members of the opposite gender inside the dorms, and espouse the other characteristics of evangelical Christianity. Some non-religious folks and many left sided politicians have a problem with this. For this reason many folks shy away from it, as they are convinced a degree from a Christian school will be a red flag if they try to get a job in academia or government. They are afraid of being automatically labeled as homophobic, or pro-life, or otherwise intolerant themselves... YMMV

2) The ex President/co-founder was at one time a big name pastor on TV. He was accused of financial impropriety and some other personal issues and was ultimately removed. He did not espouse the personal values the school claimed to champion.  He has family members however that are still associated with the school. So, some religious folks, and some on the conservative right claim that the school still has a bad stigma as a result.. until his family cuts ties completely. Again... YMMV.

3) While the school is a real brick and mortar campus out east, they enroll thousands more students online than they ever have on campus. Too, their doctoral programs are almost entirely online, apart from their seminary. This has resulted in folks seeing a Liberty grad degree much the same as a University of Arizona, SNHU, Columbia Southern, or U of Phoenix degree... aka, one that came from an "online" school. Again, for many things an "online" degree is fine. For other jobs, like tenured academia, there is a stigma against them. YMMV

Overall, like I said, it depends on what your ultimate goal is. The issues folks have with the school have nothing to do with accreditation. By all accounts many of their programs really are top notch. The school is also reasonably priced.

I am not an alumni, but it is a school I have looked at for a doctorate. The religious stuff doesn't phase me. I'm a Christian, but don't attend church weekly. But at the same time the fact that I DO want a tenured faculty position makes me afraid of getting my Doctorate from them.

[Jonathan Whatley]

2) The ex President/co-founder was at one time a big name pastor on TV.

That's true of Jerry Falwell Sr. (1933–2007, Liberty Chancellor 1971–2007 and President for part of that period). He was also a key figure in the Religious Right, co-founding the Moral Majority organization.

He was accused of financial impropriety and some other personal issues and was ultimately removed.

That's true of Jerry Falwell Jr. (1962–, Liberty President 2007–2020). Unlike his father, Jerry Falwell Jr. was never a pastor or televangelist. Like his father, he was a conservative Christian political activist. Jerry Falwell Jr. became especially prominent nationally as a supporter of Donald Trump and collaborator with Charlie Kirk.

He has family members however that are still associated with the school.

After pushing out Jerry Falwell Jr. largely over personal scandals, the Liberty board revived the position of Chancellor of the university to be spiritual leader while the President would be administrative leader.

As Chancellor they appointed Jonathan Falwell, son of Jerry Sr. and brother of Jerry Jr. Jonathan had also succeeded his father in 2007 as pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church. While socially conservative, Jonathan notably and unlike his father and brother avoids partisan politics.

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

2) The ex President/co-founder was at one time a big name pastor on TV.

That's true of Jerry Falwell Sr. (1933–2007, Liberty Chancellor 1971–2007 and President for most of that period). He was also a key figure in the Religious Right, co-founding the Moral Majority organization.

He was accused of financial impropriety and some other personal issues and was ultimately removed.

That's true of Jerry Falwell Jr. (1962–, Liberty President 2007–2020). Unlike his father, Jerry Falwell Jr. was never a pastor or televangelist. Like his father, he was a conservative Christian political activist. Jerry Falwell Jr. became especially prominent nationally as a supporter of Donald Trump and collaborator with Charlie Kirk.

He has family members however that are still associated with the school.

After pushing out Jerry Falwell Jr. largely over personal scandals, the Liberty board revived the position of Chancellor of the university to be spiritual leader while the President would be administrative leader.

As Chancellor they appointed Jonathan Falwell, son of Jerry Sr. and brother of Jerry Jr. Jonathan had also succeeded his father in 2007 as pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church. While socially conservative, Jonathan notably and unlike his father and brother avoids partisan politics.

Thanks for the corrections Sir.

[ss20ts]

1) The school promotes an openly evangelical Christian world view. They take the Bible literally and yes, are openly against homosexuality, are very pro-life, prohibit alcohol on school property, prohibit members of the opposite gender inside the dorms, and espouse the other characteristics of evangelical Christianity. Some non-religious folks and many left sided politicians have a problem with this. For this reason many folks shy away from it, as they are convinced a degree from a Christian school will be a red flag if they try to get a job in academia or government. They are afraid of being automatically labeled as homophobic, or pro-life, or otherwise intolerant themselves... YMMV

I am very liberal and not Christian at all yet I have 2 master's degrees from a Christian university. Many colleges have a religious affiliation but that doesn't mean religion is in your face like it is at Liberty. Religion is in every course at Liberty. Religion was not in any of my courses at Amberton. When I attended Charleston Southern University religion was in every class and it had nothing to do with the course. I left after 1 term because I wanted to learn about business not religion.

[Tireman4]

1) The school promotes an openly evangelical Christian world view. They take the Bible literally and yes, are openly against homosexuality, are very pro-life, prohibit alcohol on school property, prohibit members of the opposite gender inside the dorms, and espouse the other characteristics of evangelical Christianity. Some non-religious folks and many left sided politicians have a problem with this. For this reason many folks shy away from it, as they are convinced a degree from a Christian school will be a red flag if they try to get a job in academia or government. They are afraid of being automatically labeled as homophobic, or pro-life, or otherwise intolerant themselves... YMMV

I am very liberal and not Christian at all yet I have 2 master's degrees from a Christian university. Many colleges have a religious affiliation but that doesn't mean religion is in your face like it is at Liberty. Religion is in every course at Liberty. Religion was not in any of my courses at Amberton. When I attended Charleston Southern University religion was in every class and it had nothing to do with the course. I left after 1 term because I wanted to learn about business not religion.

With all due respect, please do not paint this with a broad stroke. " Religion is in every course at Liberty." I will try be exact as I can. Yes, it is part of the multiple choice test you have to take to get into the course (asking about Champions for Christ). The multiple-choice test are five questions. Yes, in some classes it is a small part (American Christian Heritage), but it was not in my Comps courses (911, 912, 913 and 914). It was not in my Dissertation courses. It was not in my Slavery and the Western World Course with Dr. Joe Super. So, please do not paint the picture that is the way with each department. As I stated before, religion was not forced down my throat. Look, for the OP, it is his decision to make. For you, ss20ts, you are not a fan of LU. To each their own. YMMV!!!!!!!~

[ss20ts]

With all due respect, please do not paint this with a broad stroke. " Religion is in every course at Liberty." I will try be exact as I can. Yes, it is part of the multiple choice test you have to take to get into the course (asking about Champions for Christ). The multiple-choice test are five questions. Yes, in some classes it is a small part (American Christian Heritage), but it was not in my Comps courses (911, 912, 913 and 914). It was not in my Dissertation courses. It was not in my Slavery and the Western World Course with Dr. Joe Super. So, please do not paint the picture that is the way with each department.  As I stated before, religion was not forced down my throat. Look, for the OP, it is his decision to make. For you, ss20ts, you are not a fan of LU. To each their own. YMMV!!!!!!!~

Other commenters on here have not had the same experience as you. There are threads where people talk about having religion in all of their classes. Maybe just maybe undergrad is different than a doctoral program.

[Tireman4]

Other commenters on here have not had the same experience as you. There are threads where people talk about having religion in all of their classes. Maybe just maybe undergrad is different than a doctoral program.
[/quote]

That may very well be and I am not trying to call you out. I just did not want the OP to think religion is in every course at LU. My dissertation does not mention religion nor God in any of the 230 pages. Now, we did pray before my defense, but that was my chair that did that. (LOL and maybe I needed the almighty's help, it lasted 1.5 hours..LOL). We have had Methodists, Baptists, Latter Day Saints ( she should be defended by now), those of the Jewish faith and so on in the program ( I know personally). Also, when I first started the program, the history graduate school chair stated he did not care if they were Christians, Agnostics, Atheists, he wanted folks that were there to learn, study and become great stewards of the program after they left. Now, one point I need to raise. The program will be six years old in August. Some of us are published and some are not. A program can be judged on how the graduates publish and the types of professorships they attain after they leave. I do know of folks that are at Tier 2 schools with their LU PhDs. I do not strive to go that route because 1. I am happy at my community college, 2. I am almost at 60, so my shelf life is limited for a Tier 1 or 2 school, and 3. My salary is nice right now. LOL.